I decided to launch a new series to imagine myself as a critic at the end of the 60s and start of the 70s, and to rectify certain reviews from Rolling Stone magazine and Creem. This not meant to be contrarian, but to offer a more balanced perspective. All the albums reviewed are indeed classic albums. This is part two of a two-part tribute to the pop legend Mr. Sedaka, may he rest in peace.
Neil
Sedaka – The Hungry Years
(1975)
***1/4
Producers:
Neil Sedaka, Robert Appere
Musicians:
Neil Sedaka, Steve Crooper, Dean Parks, Leland Sklar, Nigel Olson, Milt Howard,
David Foster*, Chuck Findley, Jim Horn, Dick Hyde, Jackie Kelso, Artie Butler,
Richard Carpenter, Donny Gerrard, Gail Haness, Biran Russell, Brenda Russell
and Elton John
Songs:
Crossroads, Lonely Night (Angel Face), Stephen, Bad Blood, Your Favorite
Entertainer, Baby Blue, Tit For Tat, New York City Blues, When You Were Lovin
Me, The Hungry Years, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
Singles:
The Queen of 64, Goodman Goodbye
Reviewed
By Matthew Anthony Allair
Last years
American release of Sedaka’s Back would have been a difficult follow up
as it left an impact for those who listened. That album was also dependent from
three UK albums before. So, The Hungry Years is the first album that represents
with where Mr. Sedaka is, and the material is generally uniformly strong, while
it may not be as compelling as the prior. Still he has an impressive roster of
players, such as the iconic Steve Cropper, and the drummer from Elton John’s
Band Nigel Olson, and such players as Chuck Findley whose work on the last album
was memorable. The quality of the production remains high and the lyrical team
and Cody and Greenfield are back. The singles “The Queen of 64” is a whimsical,
if not frivolous piece, but the companion track “Goodman Goodbye” is a
compelling and varied number.
The first
thing that strikes you with “Crossroads” is Neil’s impressive piano work, and
while the number is not the Robert Johnson piece, it does seem to play with
similar themes. There’s a certain swagger to “Lonely Night (Angel Face)” that
is pleasant. The ballad “Stephen” seems to be a tribute to another musician.
The single “Bad Blood” has some playful life and features Elton John on support
vocals, that alone is another endorsement of Sedaka to have John involved. A
scathing number about a questionable woman. The ballad “Your Favorite
Entertainer” is a reflective critique about stardom, the background vocals have
the same kind of rich quality you have been hearing with Steely Dan. “Baby
Blue” is a pop blues that builds into a dramatic edge with some good guitar
work, probably by Cropper.
The side
two opener “Tit For Tat” eases into a groove that is a comeuppance piece that
has a sly sense of humor. The deceptive “New Nork City Blues” begins as a slow
ballad that describes the though urban life, and this feels like the darker
sequel to “The Immigrant”, and an acknowledgement of class differences.
Impressive. The stride blues of “When You Were Lovin’ Me” has more of a gospel
element that was seen in the prior “The Way I Am”. The other ballad, “The
Hungry Years” has gotten a lot of attention, is probably on par with
“Solitaire”, and wouldn’t surprise me if it was released as single. A lament
about two people who have reached comfort and success and realize they are less
happy. Sedaka has reconnected to his past by revisiting “Breaking Up Is Hard To
Do”, first by quoting the original track then dovetailing into a new jazz blues
arrangement. This new take reveals just how much more sophisticated and mature
he has become as a singer and pianist He may even be chasing at the heels at
new paramours like Billy Joel.
In the last couple of years Neil Sedaka has managed to build up an impressive body of songs that may hold the test of time. One can never tell what will resonate with the public, but the songs from this album and Sedaka’s Back may have a durability that others shouldn’t underestimate. Elton John’s judgment was a good decision. Recommended.
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